Andrea had been cremated and buried that very night. Liam had even ced the dog tooth along with her, as if this small act was a way to ease his guilt, if only slightly.

Grace walked through the graveyard, thenid the bouquet she had brought at the base of a simple gravestone. There was no inscription, just a photograph.

Without another word, she turned to leave.

Liam sat off to the side and smoked. It took him a few moments to gather himself before he finally said, "Grace... there''s something else I want to tell you."

Sebastian''s call had given him a fleeting burst of courage, but now, with Andrea''s gravestone in front of him and under the weight of Grace''s gaze, that courage scattered like ash.

He had now be the very person Grace despised-weak, disappointing, and easily swayed.

If he said what he suspected about Joanne, would she think that he was trying to deflect me? She barely trusted him as it was. This might be the final thread snapping.

He looked down, took a deep drag of his cigarette, and exhaled slowly.

"You''re not really a Lambert by blood," he said quietly. "When I went to the old medicine practitioner, I found a gravestone... The real one, with my sister''s name on it. After Dad took her to the countryside, the one who came back wasn''t her but you."

He paused for a second before continuing, "I don''t know what happened in between. But Dad''s gone, and when I tried to ask Mom... She knew nothing. I kept it from her. I thought maybe... I could help you remember who you really are."

Grace didn''t stop walking. She merely gave a quiet, nomittal hum.

Liam''s chest tightened at her indifference. Of course. What else had he expected? She resented him now.

He still had yet to mention Joanne. He was terrified that even the slightest hope she had for him would vanish if he ever brought it up. After all, it was only a suspicion.

He remained there silently, gazing at Andrea''s gravestone long after Grace had departed. A collection of cigarette butts littered the ground, evidence of his relentless night.

He was only 20 years old, barely an adult. Yet he felt like the years were stretching out before him, devoid of anything worth desiring.

Grace drove off without looking back.

She had long held the suspicion that she wasn''t actually a Lambert. After all, Carmen had always treated her with too much cruelty, and Quentin''s attitude had been far too...plicated.

It wasn''t apleteck of care. It was more like there had been a deep conflict raging within him. He had seemed to wish her happiness, yet he couldn''t bear the thought of her thriving too much. The affection he showed was genuine, but it was undeniablypounded with moreplex emotions.

Liam''s words had rified everything, stripping backyers of suspicion.

She truly wasn''t a Lambert.

However, if that was the case, who was she?

Without further hesitation, she drove straight to Lambert Group to demand an exnation from Sebastian. "You knew I wasn''t biologically part of the Lambert family, didn''t you?"

"Ms. Lambert, yourst name hardly matters," he said calmly. "Thepany has already been restructured under your leadership. Everyone here supports you now. No one cares whose daughter you are."

The implication was obvious—if she wanted it, thepany was hers, regardless of blood.

Grace''s gaze lingered on him for a few seconds. Then, in a serious tone, she asked again, "Are you sure my dad never said anything to you?"

If Quentin had orchestrated all this, it was improbable that he never uttered even a word to his most trusted ally.

Sebastian lowered his head silently. "That''s unfortunately the case. Thete Mr. Lambert always treated you like his own daughter. I''m sure you could feel that too, couldn''t you?"

Every word was measured and perfectly delivered. There wasn''t a speck of fault to be found.

Grace''s brows furrowed, considering whether to find time for another trip to the countryside to visit the old

alternative medicine practitione

However, the pressing matters in the Slums tonight demanded he attention.  s

By the time night fell, Grace arrived at Joanne''s ce.

Joanne hadn''t expected her, and her breath caught in her throat, though her expression remainedposed.

"Grace, what brings you here out of the blue? You could''ve at least given me a heads up."

Grace brushed past her and entered the room. "I needed to deal with something

in the area. This ce came to mind. It''s quiet."

Joanne pursed her lips ever so slightly before she forced a smile Turning on her heel, she retreated to the kitchen, returning momentster with two cups of hot water One was ced carefully in front of Grace.  s

"What exactly is it you''re dealing with?" she asked.

"You''ll find out soon enough."fnf4c5 Get full chapters from /fnf4c5

It was true. This part of the neighborhood was unusually quiet. Most of the people who had any money had already moved out. Some even preferred sharing apartments elsewhere rather than staying in the slums.

Grace swept her gaze around the room, taking in every detail before speaking again. "I remember you rented a ce near Velvet Eclipse. Why do you still spend most of your time here?"

A flicker of difort crossed Joanne''s face as her grip on the cup tightened.

"That ce is too... grand," she said. "It doesn''t feel like my world. I grew up around here. I know the reputation of this neighborhood isn''t great, but a lot of people are just trying to survive. Besides, most of my old neighbors have moved out. It''s much safer now. There''s no one shady still hanging around."  s

It dawned on Grace rather suddenly that afternoon how the units around Joanne''s ce stood several vacant properties, each bearing the marks of significant neglect and decay.

Just then, her phone shattered the silence with Lyle''s call, the voice on the other end confirming that their target had been secured and brought in.

As she stood up to leave, Joanne stopped her. A flicker of unease crossed her face as her brows knitted together. "You''re not just here to deal with work, are you?"

It was undeniable that it would haunt her all night if she didn''t ask that.

"There''s something I need to take care of, but it''s nothing you need to worry about. I''d rather you not witness a scene like that," said Grace.

With that, she turned and made her way down the hallway to a unit several doors

away.

The door to the unit was already damaged, the interior strewn with garbage. The ce had long been abandoned by anyone who cared.

In the center of the room, Lucian kneeled on the filthy floor, still unaware of who had abducted him. The skill and precision behind the act were unlike anything he had ever encountered.

Lucian saw her enter, and Joanne followed closely behind Grace. The moment her eyes fell on him, something in her gaze faltered, but she masked it immediately. She collected her expression to show calm once more. Grace stepped forward and yanked off the ck cloth covering his eyes. Surprise registered on Lucian''s face at the sight of her, followed almost instantly by a sharp intake of breath. His eyes widened in shock as theynded on Joanne.

Grace arched an eyebrow, casting a doubtful look at Joanne. "You two know each other?"